Thousands of migrants entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, overwhelming border security and triggering calls for emergency action from local authorities.
Large groups of migrants climbed over the border fence or swam across the sea to reach the Spanish territory. Officials have not yet identified the reason behind the sudden surge in arrivals.
Border Control Overwhelmed
A Ceuta official told The New York Times that preliminary estimates suggest tens of thousands of migrants have entered the enclave illegally during the latest wave. Rachid Sbihi, head of the Spanish Civil Guard Association, described the situation as extremely serious.
The situation is “absolute chaos”, and border control has “totally collapsed”, Sbihi told The Associated Press. The scale of the influx has stretched local authorities and security forces, raising concerns about public safety and border management.
Ceuta Seeks National Emergency Declaration
The Ceuta administration has urged Spain’s central government to declare a national emergency on national security grounds. Local officials have also requested additional police officers and military personnel to strengthen border security. Authorities said they need reinforcements “to guarantee the inviolability of the frontier and citizen safety”.
In response, the Spanish government announced that it is deploying more military personnel, increasing air and naval surveillance, and sending divers to patrol coastal waters. However, Madrid has not declared a national emergency.
Europe Watches Closely as Migration Pressure Rises
Spain has long served as one of the main entry points for migrants seeking to enter Europe. The latest surge in Ceuta is expected to increase pressure across the continent, particularly as immigration remains a politically sensitive issue in several European countries.
The situation comes at a time when far-right political parties are gaining support in many parts of Europe.
Italy Proposes Tougher Border Measures
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for extraordinary measures in response to the developments in Ceuta. She proposed suspending the Schengen Area agreement with Spain if necessary. Meloni said the scenes from Ceuta provide “striking evidence that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a real threat to the security of Europe’s borders”.
She also confirmed that she had discussed the situation with Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Meloni further said, “I have spoken with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Italy will not stand by and watch. We are convening the relevant bodies, and following these meetings, we are prepared to intervene with extraordinary measures to defend the borders and the safety of citizens, including the suspension of the Schengen Area with Spain.
“On illegal immigration, we will not yield an inch: defending the borders, stopping human traffickers, and ensuring effective repatriations will continue to be the line of this Government.”